Chapter 179 – Surprise Offer
Wednesday morning, Elizabeth was up with her alarm. She quickly took a shower and got ready. She wore a pair of her Lucky brand jeans and the new shirt that she had found at Walmart. She wanted to be comfortable for the flight and seeing the horses. She knew that she would have a chance to clean up before her date with Jack. She was excited that they were getting to go on an actual date. She knew that Jack had made her supper and some might consider that a date. They also went to the banquet which again could be considered a date, but this was going to be different, it was going to be the two of them, dressed up and spending time together without worry of interruption or security.
When Elizabeth left her room, she went to knock on the boys door to see if they were up, but she heard them moving around, so she turned and headed upstairs. When Elizabeth got upstairs, Gran was sitting at the counter with her Bible and a cup of tea. Elizabeth immediately went for some coffee. As she was filling her cup, Gran looked up.
"Morning." Gran said.
"Morning." Elizabeth said. "I think that the guys are up and moving, so they should be up soon."
"I figured." Gran said. "What do you want for breakfast?"
"I think I will just have some toast and fruit." Elizabeth said. "I can get it myself."
"Okay." Gran said.
As Elizabeth went about making herself some breakfast, Gran finished reading her morning Bible verses. When she was done, she closed her Bible and put it back in the drawer where she kept it and the devotional book that she was using. Elizabeth sat at the table and said a quick prayer and started eating. She had only gotten a few bites when she felt someone put hands on her shoulders. She looked up and saw that it was Jack. She smiled at him and he leaned down and gave her a kiss. He then went to get some coffee. As Jack was pouring his coffee, Frank, Nathan and Doug were coming up the stairs.
"What would you, gentleman, like for breakfast?" Gran asked.
"I am going to make my fluffy omelets." Frank said. "If that is okay, for me to use your kitchen."
"Be my guest." Gran said. "Just let me know what you need and I can point you in the right direction. I will continue to sit and enjoy my tea."
"I will help you." Doug said.
"Good." Jack said. "Nathan and I will run down to the stable and make sure that everything is done with the horses."
"We shouldn't be long." Nathan said.
"I will keep your omelets warm in the oven if you are not back." Frank said.
Jack and Nathan left out the back door and it wasn't long and Lee came up to join everyone else. Doug pulled some of the items that Frank would need while he gathered ingredients from the fridge. Since Elizabeth was done, she came and sat by Gran.
"What were you reading when I came up?" Elizabeth asked.
"My morning devotional." Gran said. "I didn't get to it before you all came up. I was trying to get a few other things done this morning and didn't sit down to do it earlier."
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "I don't know if you saw, but I left the puzzles, games and tote of art supplies in the corner in the library. Hopefully that will be enough to keep Opal busy."
"I am sure it will be plenty." Gran said. "All else fails, she can help me make some more cookies."
"True." Elizabeth said. "You have been doing a lot of baking the last couple of days."
"Yes." Gran said. "I realized that the shelf I keep goodies on in the freezer is low. Then add in the extra people that have been in the house and there is a holiday next week, I realized it was going to be one of those weeks for baking."
"Now I feel bad about going with Jack." Elizabeth said.
"Don't." Gran said. "You deserve to have a nice time with JP. If I want I can always call Abigail and she will come over with Becky."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
It wasn't long and the kitchen smelled of frying sausage. Elizabeth smiled as she watched Doug and Frank over near the stove. They were bantering back and forth and it was quite funny to watch. Frank was just pouring the omelets in the pan when Jack and Nathan came back in the back door.
"Everything good with the horses?" Doug asked.
"Perfect." Jack said. "I don't know what Ghost and Honey are going to do when Carlos goes back home for school this fall."
"Is he giving them treats again?" Doug asked.
"I don't think he even had to do that anymore." Jack said. "He opened the stall door and Ghost immediately followed him to the pasture without a lead rope."
Doug laughed.
"He probably had them hidden in his pocket." Doug said. "It was the only way that I could get him to follow me like that."
"Either way." Jack said. "I would offer to hire him and see if he wants to go to school here, but I know that he has his heart set on going to vet school."
"Well." Frank said. "Maybe you can hire him as a vet down the road. Sounds like he is good with the horses."
"He is." Jack said. "Really smart for a fifteen year old, too. You wouldn't think it because he is so soft spoken, but when you talk to him it comes through. I still can't believe that English is not his first language."
"Really?" Nathan said, surprised.
"Yep." Jack said. "His parents both speak Spanish and they teach the kids that first and then English second."
"Languages are so much easier for small children to learn." Gran said. "I always thought that they should teach kindergarten and first graders a second language and not wait until high school."
"I agree." Frank said.
"Me too." Lee said. "My mother made sure we were exposed to several languages when we were small children."
"So do any of you speak a language other than English?" Elizabeth asked.
"I speak Spanish and some Pashto that I picked up when I was stationed in Afghanistan." Frank said.
"Spanish and French." Doug said. "I also understand quite a bit of Latin."
"Same here." Lee said. "Spanish, French and some Latin."
Jack ducked his head to hide the blush that came to his face.
"Jack?" Nathan asked
"He won't tell you." Doug said. "He is embarrassed."
"It is okay to not speak another language." Nathan said.
"That is not why he is embarrassed." Frank said.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth said.
"John Parker." Gran said. "We are not your parents, you don't need to hide your accomplishments from us."
"Fine." Jack said. "I can speak Spanish, French and Latin. I also know American Sign Language. I also understand quite a bit of Italian and Gaelic, but can only speak a little bit. I can also read Greek and Hebrew."
"Wow." Elizabeth said.
"Impressive." Frank said. "I didn't know about Greek and Hebrew. Those are not easy languages to learn. I am however not surprised about Gaelic. You speak it well enough, so don't sell yourself short."
"Do you speak another language, Elizabeth?" Gran asked.
"I learned French in high school." Elizabeth said.
"Nathan?" Gran asked.
"Spanish and German." Nathan said. "I also understand Gaelic and can do a little American Sign Language."
"Nice." Gran said.
Frank had made the omelets while they had been talking. Doug had made the toast.
"Grab a plate and we can pray at the table." Frank said.
Each of the guys grabbed a plate and headed to the table. Elizabeth went to sit with them as well. Gran started pulling recipes for baking.
"Heavenly Father." Frank prayed. "Thank you for this day. Please watch over us as we travel. Keep us safe and bring about what You want for the day. Bless this food to our bodies and use us for Your good. Amen."
The guys echoed the amen and then started eating.
"Those are fluffy omelets." Elizabeth said.
"The key is to separate the eggs." Frank said. "Then you beat the egg whites until frothy. Then you add a little milk, salt and pepper to the egg yolks and whisk them together. I add the two parts together right before I pour them into the pan. Once they eggs have set, I added sausage, peppers, onions and cheese. I then carefully folded them over and cut them. I cut one in half and one in thirds."
"That is why you had two pans." Elizabeth said.
"Yes." Frank said. "I did four eggs for Nathan and I. I used seven eggs for the other three of them. That way I knew I could cut them and still have a nice portion."
"I will have to try that." Elizabeth said. "I love omelets, but mine never look that nice."
They sat talking and having a nice time while the guys ate. They had time before the helicopter would be there. It was a nice relaxing morning. When the boys were done eating, Lee gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen. He rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. When he came back to the table, he brought a carafe of coffee.
"So Frank." Jack said.
"Yes, Jack." Frank said.
"I was wondering what your plan is?" Jack asked.
"I am going to assume that you mean beyond the next couple of days." Frank said.
Jack nodded. Frank wasn't sure what Jack was up to, but he wasn't going to play games with him. He wanted Jack to just come out and say what he wanted.
"So you like the area up here?" Jack asked.
"You know I love the country." Frank said. "So yes, I love it here. You all have very pretty grounds."
Doug and Lee looked at each other and both thought they had figured out what Jack was up to. Nathan sat there looking between the two men, wondering what was going on.
"So if there was a job up here." Jack said. "You would consider it?"
"Depending on the job and who it was from." Frank said.
Jack reached into his messenger bag that was hanging on his chair and pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table toward Frank.
"What is that?" Frank asked.
"Open it." Jack said, with a smile.
Frank reached for the envelope and took it. Elizabeth reached for Jack's hand under the table. Once they were holding hands, they squeezed each other's hands. Elizabeth said a quick prayer. She didn't think that Jack would make the offer right there with everyone. Then again, Elizabeth figured that Doug and Lee knew about Jack's plan. Everyone around the table was watching as Frank opened the envelope and pulled out some folded papers. Frank's face didn't change as he read the papers. Elizabeth figured that it might have been his Army training that allowed him to do that.
Finally, Frank folded the papers and put them back in the envelope before looking at Jack with a serious expression on his face. Elizabeth wasn't sure if it was good or if Frank was upset. Once again, Elizabeth said another prayer that Frank would take the job as she knew that Jack wanted him around. She also realized that she wanted Frank around. He was nice and he seemed to have a calming effect on Jack.
"Are you serious?" Frank finally asked.
"I am very serious." Jack said. "I need someone here and I can't do that as I have promised in writing that I will attend college and get a degree."
"So is this just for while you are in school?" Frank asked.
"The contract that you have in your hand." Jack said. "Yes, that is for the five or six years that I am in school. As we get close to the end of that time, Elizabeth and I will have a better idea of where we will be full time and when we know that, we will be able to offer you a new contract based on how the farm is doing and where we are going to be."
Doug could see that Frank was struggling with something.
"Jack." Doug said.
"Yes." Jack said.
"Can I say something?" Doug asked.
Jack motioned that Doug had the floor to speak.
"When Jack talked about taking over Coal Creek." Doug said. "He told Lee and I that he always intended to have a property manager of sorts. With his purchase of the additional property, I always assumed that Jack would either hire another person or expand the description that we had come up for the property manager for Coal Creek. When Jack talked to Lee and I about what he wanted for Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds, there were several positions that we created.
I am sure that with Jack buying the additional farm and wanting to make it a working orchard and produce juice and cider; I am sure that there will be several additional positions that will need to be hired. I don't know how Jack is going to list or market the new farm, but it ultimately is part of Coal Creek and Thornton Inc. Jack wouldn't have made this offer if he didn't have a long term plan that he was working. I know that you haven't been here long nor known us long, but I will tell you that there is very little turnover here at Coal Creek. The people that do leave, it is not easy. Jack and his grandparents generally don't hire people that they don't see staying a long time. That said, I know that Jack won't want to offer a contract that was vague because they don't know where they will be living full time in a few years."
"Thank you Doug." Jack said. "He is right. I had the contract written for what was needed now, but I thought it was clear that it would be reworked as the end of the contract was closer. Devin may not have gotten my message across as clear as I thought."
"Understood." Frank said. "Then yes, I will accept."
"Read the contract." Jack said. "You can sign it and return it to Devin. We will take possession of the land the end of July."
"I will do that." Frank said. "I look forward to working for you."
"With me." Jack said. "I prefer to say people are working with me, not for me."
Jack held up his hand.
"I know, I know." Jack said. "Technically, people do work for me, but I don't like to think about it like that. I prefer to work with me."
"Fine." Frank said.
"Welcome aboard." Doug said. "Now we need to get you on a horse."
"One step at a time." Frank said. "Right now, we need to gather our stuff as our ride should be arriving shortly."
The group agreed. They got up and started moving about. Jack and Frank shook hands as they headed downstairs. Lee remained at the table and shook his head. He knew that Jack wanted to get things going, but he was surprised at the speed that Jack was moving forward. The only time that Lee had ever seen Jack move full steam ahead was when he was jumping. Lee knew Jack to be much more cautious. It wasn't that Lee was concerned, but he was surprised. First it was getting engaged to Elizabeth having known her less then two weeks. Now it was moving quickly with changing things after signing the papers to take over Coal Creek.
Jack, Nathan, Doug, Frank and Elizabeth all came up with their stuff. They didn't have much. Elizabeth had the garment bag and small overnight bag. Jack had a garment bag and his messenger bag. Nathan was also carrying a garment bag. Frank was pulling a medium carry-on piece of luggage that Elizabeth recognized as matching Jack's set. Doug just had his messenger bag. The guys had decided that one garment bag for Jack and one for the rest of them was enough. They also decided to just use one large piece of luggage instead of each having a small overnight bag.
Gran said her goodbyes in the house because she had cookies in the oven. Lee walked out with everyone. They waited on the grass near the helipad. When the helicopter landed, it stopped the blades, but you could hear the engine running still. The co-pilot got out and opened the cargo hatch. The guys put their things in, said good-bye to Lee and crawled into the helicopter. Elizabeth stayed with Jack while he said good-bye to Lee. Lee stepped back to the edge of the helipad once everyone was in and waved as they took off.